Photo credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

By Pearl Allison Lo

San Jose regrouped from a 4-1 loss Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Eastern leaders Tampa Bay Thursday.

The Sharks led the whole game while ending the Lightning’s seven-game points streak. Tampa Bay fell to second in the East.

A giveaway in the Sharks’ end gave the puck to to Tomas Hertl, whose shot ricocheted to Joe Thornton. Thornton then scored through several defenders at 5:23 of the second

Tyler Kennedy scored the game winner and his first goal at 10:37. He took a pass from Brent Burns in the other end, scoring with two defenders trailing him. Antti Niemi got his first assist as well during the play.

Captain Steven Stamkos pulled the Lightning to within one when he redirected Andrej Sustr’s shot at 9:35 of the third. Valterri Filppula helped too. It was Tampa Bay’s first regulation loss with Stamkos having a point (8-1-2). It was also goalie Ben Bishop’s first home regulation loss (6-1-1).

Game notes: In the past 11 meetings, San Jose is now 9-1-1 versus the Lightning. Goalie Antti Niemi is now 5-0-1 in his starts against Tampa Bay. He faced 33 shots and Bishop faced 39.Lightning Tyler Johnson did play. Shots on goal throughout the game were one-sided for either team. San Jose outshot the Lightning through the first two periods, 17-9 and 14-8. Tampa Bay outshot the Sharks 16-8 in the final stanza. San Jose continues on the road to face the Colombus Blue Jackets Saturday at 4pm.